This site uses cookies to:
  • Allow members to log in to the site;
  • Collect anonymous data for Google Analytics, so that we know which parts of the site are the most interesting;
  • To prevent this message from annoying you if you've already dismissed it;
By using the site, you are agreeing to the use of these cookies. If you have cookies disabled, some parts of the site may not work as expected.

Dismiss this message

Does THC Improve Your Fitness, Too?

Quite a bit of lip service is paid to the second-most-prevalent cannabinoid, CBD. CBD was first discovered in 1940, but more recently, research on the compound has indicated that it might function as a wonder drug, providing treatment for all manner of bodily ills. For athletes specifically, CBD is beneficial in the recovery process, helping to relax the muscles, reduce pain and inflammation and assist with restful sleep.

However, CBD isn’t the only cannabinoid in cannabis. The most common cannabinoid by far is delta-9-tetra cannabinol, or THC, which is famous for causing drug users to feel high. Though many athletes are hesitant to use cannabis products that contain THC, there are some notable health benefits worth considering.

The Endocannabinoid System

Before any athlete dabbles in THC, CBD or any cannabis product whatsoever, they should put some time into learning about the endocannabinoid system, or ECS. The ECS is a system in the human body with several tasks, among them maintaining homeostasis, facilitating messages between the brain and other systems, communicating pain and more. To manage these tasks, the ECS produces compounds called endocannabinoids, which bind with receptors to elicit different kinds of responses. In particular, the endocannabinoid anandamide is responsible for mitigating the sensation of pain.

It is no coincidence that the endocannabinoid system looks similar to the term “cannabis.” The ECS was only discovered in the 1990s during research on how marijuana affects the human body. Studies show that THC mimics various endocannabinoids, binding with ECS receptors in overwhelming quantity. In doing so, it throws different systems out of their normal operation, which produces the feeling of being high. In contrast, CBD seems to stimulate the ECS to produce more of certain endocannabinoids, which can facilitate comfort and healing in different ways.

THC’s Fitness-focused Effects

Comparing THC vs. CBD can be beneficial in general, but most athletes know more about CBD than they know about THC. While THC has many effects, there are two that stand out as practical to athletes:

Increased metabolic rate for fat loss. Due to cultural awareness of “the munchies,” many associate marijuana use with unhealthy eating and high body fat. However, research on heavy cannabis users has found the opposite to be true. It seems that THC stimulates the metabolism, increasing metabolic rate and encouraging the body to burn fat stores. In fact, regular THC users tend to have lower BMIs than their weed-abstaining peers.

Improved focus for endurance workouts. Small amounts of THC have been shown to improve focus and concentration. That’s not to say that THC will improve intellect or critical thinking — but athletes usually aren’t solving logic puzzles during a training session. For athletes who struggle to stay engaged with long, repetitive endurance workouts, micro-dosing with THC can be a simple and effective way to maintain focus and finish strong.

Risks Associated With All Marijuana

Both CBD and THC have benefits, but they also come with risks. Many athletes who compete in their chosen sport are subject to drug testing, and though marijuana is legal for adults in many states, it remains against the rules in most athletic competitions. Contrary to popular believe, some CBD products will cause athletes to fail drug tests because those products do contain trace amounts of THC. In some organizations, even one failed drug test is grounds for removing the athlete from the sport.

Additionally, some methods of using marijuana come with greater risk. For instance, smoking weed in joints or pipes can damage the lungs — albeit much less than tobacco cigarettes. Because effective respiration is crucial to most athletic endeavors, this damage can ultimately degrade athletic performance. Plus, large doses of THC can put users at immediate risk for heart attack, which isn’t ideal among those expecting to participate in vigorous exercise.

Finally, THC is an intoxicant. In addition to increasing metabolic rate and improving focus, it impairs decision-making skills and motor coordination, making many activities much, much more difficult. Again, THC isn’t ideal for workouts that rely on quick thinking and movements; repetitive training, like long-distance running, is more appropriate for those using the drug to improve.

There are many seemingly dangerous substances that can improve athletic performance when consumed in small amounts at specific times. For instance, a plate of pasta is too heavy to consume before a game of tennis, but on the evening before a marathon, those carbs will provide much-needed energy. Many athletes might not find THC useful because its effects will not contribute to success — but some athletes might start sneaking a few small hits into their workout regimen to see how they benefit. 

Published by

HoylesFitness

Owner of www.hoylesfitness.com. Personal Trainer, Father and fitness copy writer. Working hard making the world fitter and healthier!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

More Like This